A changing of the guard at WSLC Accounting Manager

SEATTLE (April 29, 2021) — After serving nearly five years overseeing the financial department of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Carlos de la Torre is retiring and the WSLC has welcomed Paul Giering as its new Accounting Manager.

Carlos has managed the WSLC’s financial services management system and prepared general ledger analysis and financial reports since June 2016. During that time, he has worked closely with WSLC Secretary Treasurer April Sims, Accounts Payable Clerk Robert New, and various state and federal government agencies to ensure proper fiscal procedures for grants, contracts, and the council itself. He had planned to retire a year ago but with the COVID pandemic and the various challenges it has presented, Carlos agreed to postpone his retirement until now. Friday, April 30 will be his last day.

“I truly can’t thank Carlos enough, not only for the expertise and efficiency he has brought to the council, but for sticking with us this past year during the pandemic,” Secretary Treasurer Sims said. “We owe a big debt of gratitude to him, and we congratulate him and wish him well on a well-earned retirement.”

Originally from Southern California, Carlos has been a member of the Teamsters, Meat Cutters and United Cement, Gypsum & Lime Workers unions. After leaving the blue-collar world, Carlos returned to school and earned an accounting degree from California State University, San Bernardino. Upon graduation and relocation to the Pacific Northwest, Carlos worked in accounting in the private sector for more than 20 years before his “changing life perspectives” led him to the non-profit world, where he worked for an organization that addresses homelessness and then with the WSLC.

“I believe luck has much to do with people’s lives,” Carlos said. “Thus far in life I have been a lucky man and as I end my tenure as Accounting Manager for the WSLC, I must say that it was a very lucky day when I was selected to join the organization. I cannot think of a better way to have capped off my working years and now head off into retirement. Thank you, WSLC, and to all my coworkers who made my work a joy for me.”

And now, Paul Giering has joined the WSLC as its new Accounting Manager. Prior to entering the non-profit world, he has held a variety of positions spanning accounting, finance and analytics, but says he found the work unrewarding.

“All too often I felt I was supporting organizations and people with views diametrically opposed to my own core values around fairness, community, social justice, family, equality, respect and trust,” Paul said. “Tired of seeing working people and the planet exploited for profit by those corporations and people at and near the top of our economic system, I wanted to put my skills to work for an organization who champions the fight against these forces, and I found that opportunity at the WSLC. The Council makes a significant difference in all of these areas, and I am proud to finally have a role that supports an organization which reflects my values instead of challenging and compromising them. I am so happy to be part of this team.”